Shotgun gauge

What are you guys thoughts on 12 vs 20 for clays/skeet/five stand?

Men shoot 12ga...

Everybody else shoot 20. Joking of course.

I shoot 12ga because I suck. More BB's, more power should equal better results?
Not to mention ammo prices of the sub gauges.

I shoot 12 mostly but I really don't know why. I guess it's just that bigger is better mentality. I own identical guns In both gauges. I understand the more bb's thing but I'm not sure an 1/8 of an ounce will make a noticeable difference in my shooting.

Skeet, almost no difference…..some of the top shooters use the 20 in 12 ga. events or load down to much lighter loads. Though not competing anymore, I load my 12 to 3/4 oz,, 1200 fps, and screw cyl. In each barrel……absolutely no need to beat yourself up.

Clays and 5 stand can be different due to much longer targets but I still just shoot 1 oz. with no more choke than imp.

Gauge, Length & Ounce Shot with Muzzle Velocity Weight of Firearm Recoil Energy (ft. lbs.)
.410, 2.5" - 1/2 oz / 1200 fps 5.5 7.1
.410, 3" - 11/16 oz / 1135 fps 5.5 10.5
28 Gauge, 2.75" - 3/4 oz / 1200 fps 6.0 12.8
20 Gauge, 2.75" - 7/8 oz / 1200 fps 6.5 16.1
20 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 oz / 1220 fps 6.5 21.0
20 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/8 oz / 1175 fps 6.5 25.0
20 Gauge, 3" - 1 1/4 oz / 1185 fps 6.5 31.0
16 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 oz / 1220 fps 7.0 21.5
16 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/8 oz / 1200 fps 7.0 27.6
12 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 oz / 1180 fps 7.5 17.3
12 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/8 oz / 1200 fps 7.5 23.0
12 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/4 oz / 1330 fps 7.5 32.0
12 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/2 oz / 1260 fps 7.5 45.0
12 Gauge, 3" - 1 5/8 oz / 1280 fps 7.5 52.0
12 Gauge, 3" - 1 7/8 oz / 1210 fps 8.75 54.0
10 Gauge, 3.5" - 2 1/4 oz / 1210 fps 10.5 62.9


according to chart 1oz 20ga vs 11/8 oz 12 ga both around 1200fps = 21 vs 23 ft.lbs recoil

12 ga is easy to come by almost anywhere.

shot density on the 12 ga is higher and makes a difference.

20ga guns are generally lighter which is not a good thing for sporting clays (100 rounds for sport clays plus a round or 2 of 5stand= 160 plus rounds)

i started off with a 20ga Citori & when shooting 150 clays it was beating the crap out of me. i changed over to Beretta 12ga gas guns and i am so much happier.

If you shoot a 20 you can shoot in the sub gauge category

P_102 that logic makes a lot of sense to me, thanks.

Hetman that's some good Info. I have some gas guns. They are definitely better in the recoil department.

Nesikabay I think there may be a bunch of sly old dogs shooting in that category. 🤔

JDCass, one point made by Hetman about weight should not be taken lightly….weight cuts down on recoil and, more important, promotes follow through. My 12 ga. O/U weighs 11 lbs., (without tubes).

P_102 that is crazy heavy. I shot Leslie's Ceasar Gurini and it is pretty hefty also. Minimal recoil with target loads.
All my guns are hunting guns, probably in the 7-8 lb range.

Brileys sells barrel weights and you can get (or could last I heard) a mercury filled recoil reducer that goes in the butt. Also, the hole in the butt of many shotguns is the perfect size for a roll of quarters, that’s what I use.

You will kill more birds with a 12ga. 20ga is more challenging and can be more enjoyable to shoot because it is a lighter gun, but put anyone experienced gunner in a competitive situation and they will pick a 12ga. All the 4H kids (guys and gals) shoot 12ga, for good reason.

You are right on the mark. Also most 4H kids shoot OU guns for a reason. For me its recovery time

A. Lighter guns ARE NOT more enjoyable to shoot as they have more recoil vs. same gun with more weight. B. 20 ga. patterns are almost identical to 12, just fewer pellets which only makes a difference outside of about 30 yards. I switched from 12 to 20 after two years on the Skeet circuit because my 20 ga. average was higher than my 12. As stated before, I agree that more pellets in Clays and 5 stand could be needed due to the longer target ranges but don’t lump it all together with blanket statements that 12 is better.

I will lump in that NO 20 GAUGE HAS EVER WON THE NATIONALS IN SPORTING CLAYS

Done more looking . A 20 gauge is fine for sub shooting. I look at trap skeet and Sporting clays matches. I can't find a major match where a 20 beat a 12

Look up Robert Paxton (skeet). 31 times 1st Team All American, holds 20 ga. long run record of 2,713, inducted into NSSA Hall of Fame in 1995. ‘Pax’ shoots the 12 ga. event with a 20 ga. There are others, the NSSA record books don’t show what gun (or gauge) a shooter used.

Everyone's opinions are interesting and gives a guy something to think about. I don't feel strongly either way. When I go shoot I take whatever I grab out of the gun safe.

A 20ga is not going to have more recoil than a 12ga, period. While a lighter gun has more recoil, shouldering and holding a gun all morning, the lighter gun is more enjoyable. I’m thinking more about hunting, standing in a marsh all morning holding a gun duck hunting, shooting 6 to 12 shells. Or walking fields all morning bird hunting. The lighter gun is nice. Vs shooting hundreds of shells with sporting clay, which I do not do any more. But recoil has never been an issue for me, but I have never shot more than a 100 shells in one day. But yeah if you are sitting in a chair shooting a thousand rounds in Argentina, I can see why you might want a heavier gun.

I agree with you from a hunting standpoint, Guy, I use a 28 most of the time. Unfortunately this thread was started about clays, 5 stand and skeet and that is what my answer focused on.

Lol, clay as well I pick a lighter gun (same gauge). Again if I'm gonna be shooting a million shells a day I might (MIGHT) consider a heavy gun for less recoil. Clay I would add weight more for swing feel than recoil.